This week on the GLP-1 Collective Podcast, I had the chance to talk with Justin Silver, the creator of SymptoGuard. What stood out most to me was not just the supplement itself, but the heart behind why he built it.

Justin’s story begins with his father, who lived through the struggles of obesity and the side effects of weight loss medications. Watching someone you love face those challenges changes the way you see the entire system. For Justin, it became the motivation to find a way to help people who are trying to improve their health but feel stuck dealing with side effects that slow them down.

In our conversation, Justin shares what drove him to create SymptoGuard, the research behind it, and the bigger picture of what it means to support patients using GLP-1 medications. We talk about education, about giving people the tools they need to make informed choices, and about why access to safe and effective options should not be limited to only those who can afford it.

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What struck me most was Justin’s compassion. He is not just another voice in the supplement space. He is someone who has walked alongside his family through real struggles and who wants to use that experience to help others. That makes this episode not only about a product, but about people, family, and the belief that we can do better for those living with obesity.

I think you will find this conversation both hopeful and practical. It is about longevity, resilience, and what it really takes to support healthier lives.

As always, there are so many ways you can support the podcast. The simplest and most powerful are free: give us a five-star rating, leave a comment so others know why this work matters, and share the episode with a friend. Every time you do, you help us reach someone new who might need to hear stories like Justin’s.

I am grateful you are here. I hope this episode leaves you with the same sense of possibility and compassion that I felt after talking with Justin.

Get your tickets for the BioCare GLP-1 Meetup in Philadelphia this September 13!

In this episode, Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD, dietitian, GLP-1 patient, and founder of GLP-1 Hub, joins us to talk about building a space for people on GLP-1 medications. We dive into her personal health journey, how she blends science with lived experience, and the resources she has created, from high-protein meal plans to a thriving podcast, to help others navigate life on GLP-1s with confidence.

GLP‑1 Hub is a supportive community and wellness resource.

Founded by registered dietitian and GLP-1 user Ana Reisdorf, GLP-1 Hub is dedicated to guiding individuals using GLP‑1 medications through uplifting stories, expert insights, and practical nutrition tools to empower you on your health journey.

The GLP‑1 Hub Podcast: Insight, Science & Connection

The “hub” of the community is the podcast hosted by Ana Reisdorf to deliver science-based guidance, heartfelt guest stories, and actionable tips. You'll hear weekly episodes that explore themes like longevity, mental health, and navigating GLP‑1 treatments in interviews with health and lifestyle experts and GLP-1 users.

Listeners consistently praise the show:

“This podcast is informative and well‑rounded… Ana Reisdorf draws from her own experience with GLP‑1… offers scientifically factual and rational information.”

You can find the podcast on any platform where you listen to podcasts or by visiting the GLP-1 Hub podcast page.

GLP‑1 Hub Store: Meal Plans, Recipe Books & Bundles

The GLP‑1 Hub store offers an ever-expanding collection of nutrition tools designed specifically for GLP‑1 users:

* A get-started guide called “Beyond the Shot”

* A 30-day dietitian-created meal plan

* High protein recipe collections

These resources focus on high-protein, nutrient-dense, easy-to-follow recipes to support appetite changes and metabolic benefits while on GLP‑1 medications.

Ana’s Story: From Struggling to Thriving

The founder, Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD, knows the journey personally. In her candid “Founder's GLP‑1 Journey”, she shares years of grappling with weight, metabolic health, and the emotional ups and downs of being overweight. When she discovered GLP‑1 medications, it wasn’t just a breakthrough; it was a pathway to freedom.

Her story fuels everything at GLP‑1 Hub. With her background as a registered dietitian and her personal transformation, Ana delivers empathy, expertise, and unwavering support.

Whether you’re looking for science-backed insights, meal planning tools, or just someone who understands what you’re going through, GLP‑1 Hub offers a unique blend of expertise and community. It’s a space where practical support meets real-life experience created by someone who’s walked the path herself.

Connect with GLP-1 Hub on Instagram and YouTube.

In this episode, I talk with Sharna Braucks who opens up about her life-long struggle with weight. She started dieting at just 8 years old and went through two separate gastric bypass surgeries. It wasn’t until she started a GLP-1 that she finally found hope.

Sharna shares what’s helped her be successful on the medication, how her mindset has shifted, and why gratitude plays a key role in her journey. This interview was originally recorded live, and I’m so grateful to share it with you here.

From Shame to Strength: How GLP-1 Medication Changed Sharna’s Life

When Sharna Brauks was just a few months old, a doctor told her mother she was overweight and needed skim milk. By eight years old, she was in a medically supervised weight-loss program with adults. That early introduction to dieting was the start of decades of yo-yo weight loss, bariatric surgeries, shame, and self-blame.

Sharna’s story is one many in our community will find painfully familiar but it’s also one filled with hope. Today, she is down 100 pounds, healthy, strong, and, most importantly, free from the relentless “food noise” that controlled her life for over 50 years.

A Lifetime of Fighting Her Body

Growing up, Sharna tried every diet, pill, and program. She had two bariatric surgeries, the first at 19, each bringing only temporary results before the weight crept back. Every regain deepened her belief that she was weak or flawed.

Even while working in health and wellness, she faced judgment and internalized shame for “not looking the part.” She knew what to do, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, but sustaining it felt impossible. “It was never my stomach that needed fixing,” she says. “It was my brain.”

Finding GLP-1 — and Hope

In late 2023, Sharna began hearing more about new anti-obesity medications. When Zepbound was approved for obesity that November, she jumped at the chance. After a three-month wait to see an obesity specialist, she left her appointment in tears, tears of joy that she finally had another option.

She started Zepbound on March 1, 2024. The first month, she lost 20 pounds. More importantly, she noticed something new: she reached for chips, ate three, and put the bag away without a fight. “It was freeing,” she recalls. “To not have that voice in my head. For the first time, I thought, is this what normal feels like?”

In just over six months, she lost 100 pounds and reached her lowest weight since the fifth grade.

Life After Food Noise

Sharna now enjoys Pilates, yoga, and daily walks, movement she once dreaded. She’s maintained her weight loss without obsessing over the scale, focusing instead on how her body feels and performs. She’s learned to tell the difference between true hunger and old “food noise” patterns.

Her advice? “Celebrate all the wins, not just the number on the scale. The ease in which you can move, the extra minutes you can walk before sweating, the mental clarity, those are just as important.”

Advocacy and Gratitude

Sharna is vocal about her use of GLP-1s, sharing her story with coworkers, friends, and even strangers. She knows that hearing firsthand accounts changes perceptions and sparks empathy.

While she’s grateful to the manufacturers for creating these medications, she also believes in advocating for accessibility and affordability: “Gratitude doesn’t mean silence. We can thank them for the innovation and still push for wider, fairer access.”

A Vision Beyond Weight Loss

For Sharna, this transformation is about more than pounds lost. She’s creating a vision for who she wants to be, physically, mentally, and in her relationships. “I’ll always be a person living with obesity, now managing it with medication. But I’m not defined by it. I want to use my experience to advocate, educate, and help others see there is hope.”

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Disclaimer: The GLP-1 Collective Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment plan. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the GLP-1 Collective or GLP-1 Access LLC. This podcast is owned and produced by GLP-1 Access LLC in support of the GLP-1 Collective nonprofit mission.